Method of making metal wheel hubs



Apr. 17, 1923. 1,4522%0 J. L. HECHT METHOD OF MAKING METAL WHEEL HUBSFiled Dec. '7, 1921 9 .1.

Patented Apr. 17, 1923.

earner triers.

JOSEPH L. EEOHT, OF DAVENPORT, IOVTA, ASSIGNOR TO G. VVATSO'N FRENCH ANDJOSEPH L. HECHT, OF DAVENPORT, IO'WA, AND W. H. STAGKHOUSE, OF SPRING-FIELD, OHIO, OOMPOSING THE FIRM 01E FRENCH & HECH'I'.

METHOD OF MAKING METAL WHEEL HUIBS.

Application filed December 7, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, JosnPH L. Hnorrr, a citizen of the United States,residin at Davenport, in the county of Scott and tate of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Making MetalWheel Hubs, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to the production of tubular metal wheel hubs,more particularly of the type in which a circumferential groove isprovided on the interior of the hub to form a spoke chamber to receivethe heads on the inner ends of the spokes by which the latter areriveted to the hub. The object of the invention is to produce a hub ofgreat strength and durability and in which the spoke chamber or chamberswill be reenforced so as to withstand the severe stresses imposed at thepoints where the spokes are fastened inplace. To this end the inventionconsists in an improved method of forming the hub, in which method 2 twoblanks are assembled one within the other to form a hollow cylindricalhub struc ture composed of two thicknesses or layers of material, whichlayers are caused to interlock with each other by interfitting promtuberances and grooves on the respective layers; whereby there is formeda hub having an internal spoke chamber which is reenforced by anexternal reenforcing member. The present invention is directed to one535 method of forming a hub structure of the characteristics and formdescribed and claimed in an application for Letters Patent of the UnitedStates filed by me on the 11th day of April 1919, Serial No. 289,371,patented March 14:, 1922.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of two blanks for forming a hub in accordance withmy invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view showing the two blanks bent andassembled in an intermediate stage of the method.

h Fig. 3 is a similar view of the completed Fig. 4 is a longitudinalsectional elevation of the same.

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views showing how the method is applicableto form hubs.

Serial No. 520,548.

with two spoke chambers for two rows or ranks of spokes.

Referring to the drawings:

In carrying my improved method into effect, I provide two blanks A and Bin the form of metal plates or sheets, the blank A being of a form andsize to constitute the hub proper or shell, and the blank B being of aform and size to constitute the reenforcing member thereof, and bysuitable means I bend the blank A into cylindrical form, and I bend theblank B into U-shaped or general semi-circular form so that thecylindrical-blank may be seated or assembled within the U-shaped blankas shown in Fig. 2. The blanks, either before being thus bent, or duringthe bending operation, are formed with longitudinal grooves a and 6respec tively. which are produced by forcing the material of the blanksoutwardly from one side along a longitudinal line, thereby throwing upon the other side longitudinal ribs a and b on the respective blanks. Asa result, the blank A will have in one side the cavity or groove a, andon its other side the corresponding rib or protuberance a; and the blankB will likewise have in one side the cavity or groove 7), and on itsother side the corresponding rib or protuberance I), the protuberance onthe blank A entering and interlocking with the groove in the blank Bwhenthe two blanks are assembled one within the other as shown in Fig.2. By suitable means and devices I next force the legs or free ends ofthe blank B closely around the cylindrical. blank A so that the blank Bwill closely surround the blank A and will conform. to the cylindricalform thereof as shown in Fig. 3, by which action the protuberance on theblank A will seat in and interlock throughout its extent with the groovein the blank B. By these operations a hub shell is produced constitutedby the blank A and having on its interior a cireumferential grooveforming a spoke chamher which is reenforced by a surrounding reenforcingmember constituted by the blank B.

The protuberant portions of the two blanks are formed with holes (3 andD respectively to receive the spokes, which holes in the assembledblanks will register with each other so that the inner ends of thespokes can be passed therethrough and firmly riveted in place, and theparts secured together by the formation of shoulders E on the spokesbearing against the outer side of the reenforcing member, and heads i onthe ends of the spokes seated in the spoke chamber and bearing againstthe inner side of the hub shell. The holes in the two blanks may beformed eithenbefore the blanks are bent, or they may be punched or boredthrough the blanks after they arebent into their final cylindrical formof Fig.

By assembling the bent blanks one within the other as above described,when the outer blank is finally shaped into cylindrical form, the jointsof the two blanks will be disposed out of line with each other and atdiametrically opposite points; and the blanks may be maintained in fixedrelation to each other and connected together so as to preserve theircylindrical form, either by riveting the spokes thereto as abovedescribed, orby spot welding the two blanks together, or by rivetin themtogether by rivets, or by other suitab e means.

I have described above my improved method as applicable to the formationof a hub structure provided with a single spoke chamber to receive asingle row or rank of spokes, but it will be manifest that the inventionis applicable as well in connection with the formation of a hubstructure having two spoke chambers a a as shown inl ig. 5 to receivetwo rows or ranks of spokes,in which event the surrounding reenforcingmember may be either applied in the form of separate comparativelynarrow members BB as shown in Fig. 5,01' in the form of a single memberB extending substantially throughout the length of the hub shellproper'as shown in Fig. 6.

It Will be understood that such changes in the method of procedure setforth may be made as will suggest themselves to the skilled mechanic,without departing from the limits of the invention; and further it willbe understood that the invention is not limited in respect to thestepsof the method except in so far as such limitations are specified in theclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: i

l. The method of making wheel hubs with circumferential spoke chambers,which method consists in assembling a cylindrical blank within aU-shaped blank, each with a groove in one side and a, correspondingprotuberance onthe other side, and bending the legs of the U-shapedblank around tlie'cylindrical blank to give the U- haped blankcylindrical form, While causing the protuberance on theinner blank tobecome interlocked in the groove in the surrounding blank.

2. The method of making wheel hubs with circumferential spoke chambers,which method consists in providing two blanks each with a groove in oneside and a corresponding protuberance on the other side, bending oneblank into cylindrical form and bending the other blank into U-shapedform, seating the cylindrical blank within the U- shaped blank, andfinally acting on the U- shaped blank to cause the same to conform tothe cylindrical form of the cylindrical blank, while causing theprotuberance on the inner blank to become interlocked in the groove inthe surrounding blank. p

In testimony whereof, I have affixed my signature hereto.

- JOSEPH L. HECHT.

